Chapter 47. Prisoner (2)

Not only did he pour all the money he had earned so far into it, but he even took out a loan.

He cast Nate Horvitz, who was once a briefly famous actor but is now considered a has-been, as the lead.

The movie that was created this way was none other than Zombie Twister.

However...

Contrary to the expectation that it would be a huge hit, the performance was poor. While he managed to recover half the production cost by distributing it to cable TV and OTT platforms, the rest remained as debt.

The loss from Zombie Twister amounted to a staggering one million dollars!

For a major studio that pours a hundred million dollars into a single film production, a one million dollar loss is nothing, but for a small to medium-sized film company, it was a shock that could shake the company to its core.

Moreover, the problem was that they had immediately started production on the sequel, assuming that Zombie Twister would naturally be a success.

To pay off the debt, they needed to make more movies, but who would invest in a sequel to a failed film?

The situation became so dire that they couldn't even pay the staff's salaries, and production was indefinitely suspended.

"We need to secure some investment."

"There's no other way."

B-movie companies are born and die countless times every day. There were plenty of B-movie companies looking for investment.

Fortunately, some investment firms and film companies showed interest.

The problem was the conditions. The investors demanded the suspension of Zombie Twister 2's production and the right to edit the script.

These were conditions they could not accept.

While they were pondering, someone appeared.

* * *

A shabby warehouse in Burbank, Los Angeles.

As Han Miru and David Rockheart entered the headquarters of Prisoner, two men in their mid-30s greeted them.

One was a tall, pale-skinned white man, and the other was a short, pot-bellied Hispanic.

These two were Simon Linus and Fernando Sanchez, the co-founders and managers of Prisoner.

"Nice to meet you."

The four of them shook hands warmly.

"You want to invest in our film company?"

In response to Simon's question, Han Miru said:

"It's not just an investment; I want to acquire Prisoner."

The two men were taken aback.

"We don't plan to sell our company..."

"I'll offer you three million dollars for the acquisition."

"..."

Simon quickly shut his mouth, and Fernando exclaimed in surprise.

"Three million dollars!"

It was too large an amount to refuse.

The two men exchanged glances.

"Is that really true?"

"Yes. To be precise, I'll give you two million dollars for the shares and pay off the company's one million dollar debt."

Currently, Prisoner has no assets to speak of.

The only thing of value is the eleven films they've produced so far. While royalties from these films come in when they are broadcast or sold, the amount is negligible.

"Why do you want to acquire our company?"

The answer was surprising.

"Because I'm a fan of Zombie Twister. When I heard that the production of the sequel was halted, I thought I should acquire the company and support its production."

Fernando was overjoyed.

Not only did they want to acquire the company, but they also wanted to support the production of Zombie Twister 2!

"Really?"

"Of course. How much do you estimate the production cost for the sequel to be?"

"Two million dollars... but! If we reduce the CG, it might be possible with 1.7 million dollars."

Han Miru responded confidently.

"I'll invest two million dollars immediately for the production of Zombie Twister 2. Why reduce the CG just because you don't have the budget? Use as much CG as you want."

"Wow!"

His mouth hung open.

The excitement of wanting to start filming immediately made his large bottom wiggle.

"But how many sequels do you plan to produce?"

"We have scripts planned up to the twelfth installment."

"Hmm..."

David involuntarily let out a sigh.

'You plan to make eleven more of these movies?'

Han Miru was also surprised.

'I remember seeing up to the eighth installment before I regressed. There are four more after that?'

Simon spoke cautiously.

"We founded this company to make the movies we want without being swayed by capital."

"Do you mean you don't want me to interfere with production, even though I'm investing?"

This is a demand that investors cannot easily accept.

Typically, investors meddle in everything from the script to the actors, shooting, and PPL. Even in major Hollywood studios, it's common for directors to be replaced due to conflicts with investors.

However, Simon was not willing to compromise on this point.

"That's right."

Han Miru nodded.

"Let's do it that way."

"Really?"

"I won't interfere with production or management. I'll even specify this in the contract."

However, the two men still looked skeptical.

In reality, just because it's written in the contract doesn't mean investors won't interfere. If you don't listen, they can just cut off the funding.

"Additionally, I'll allocate a minimum of two million dollars for the production of each installment, no questions asked. You can make the movies you want, just like before."

Fernando reacted first.

"Really?"

"Yes. Zombie Twister is not just a movie; it's a form of art. Art should be left to the artists, not someone like me who is an outsider. I won't interfere with production."

David thought to himself.

'Is that what art is?'

Was he the only one who didn't understand the art?

Simon and Fernando were deeply moved.

To think there was someone who understood their artistic spirit!

There was no need to hesitate any longer.

"Alright, let's sign the contract."

"You've made a good decision."

David handed them the contract he had brought, and the two signed to transfer their shares.

Now, Prisoner belonged to Continuum Capital.

Han Miru said to them:

"Mr. Linus, I hope you continue to lead the company as CEO. And Mr. Sanchez, please resume the production of Zombie Twister 2 as soon as possible. Many fans are waiting."

The two men nodded.

"Understood."

* * *

After completing the investment, we sat down at a nearby restaurant for a late lunch.

While I was enthusiastically eating pancakes and omelets, David didn't touch his food.

"Why do you look like that?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look like you want to transfer to Shark Management even now."

"..."

Why can't he answer? Did I hit a nerve?

David sighed and said:

"Are you really investing because you found Zombie Twister entertaining?"

"That's one reason, but I also think it will be profitable."

Even if I hadn't invested, Prisoner would have been sold, and Zombie Twister 2 would have been produced. I'm just playing the role now.

"The three million dollars for acquiring the company is not a problem."

"Then what is the problem?"

"The problem is the continuous investment. The production costs for the movies could easily exceed the initial estimates. If things go wrong, it could be like pouring water into a bottomless pit."

"Wouldn't it be fine if Zombie Twister 2 becomes a huge hit?"

Many people misunderstand, but Zombie Twister is not just a random, ridiculous movie. Surprisingly, the story is intricate and solid, with perfect coherence.

Scenes that seem random in the first installment make sense by the sixth. All the plot threads are perfectly tied up.

It's not for nothing that the series gained popularity with each installment.

"Even if it becomes a hit, the revenue from selling the rights to cable TV and OTT platforms has its limits."

"Then why not release it in theaters?"

David asked, bewildered.

"The first installment wasn't released in theaters, and you want to release the second one in theaters?"

"It's not impossible."

Zombie Twister 2 was initially distributed on cable TV and OTT platforms, just like the first installment.

Then, it gained cult popularity among zombie enthusiasts through word of mouth and eventually led to small-scale theatrical releases.

However, a bizarre situation unfolded.

At the time, a movie called 'Perfect Twister' was released in theaters.

It was a disaster film about a powerful tornado hitting California, directed by Steven Taylor and starring Hollywood's top stars, Vincent Berry and Jessica Edwards.

The production cost was a staggering 200 million dollars.

It was hailed as a major Hollywood blockbuster, expected to dominate the summer box office.

But the subtitle of Zombie Twister 2 happened to be 'Perfect Twister'!

The subtitle was written larger on the poster, leading audiences who came to see 'Perfect Twister' to mistakenly watch 'Zombie Twister 2'.

Thinking it was a disaster blockbuster, the audience was shocked and terrified when zombies poured out of the tornado, and it even made the news.

Universal Studios, which distributed 'Perfect Twister,' threatened to sue Prisoner, but the fact that Prisoner had used the term 'Perfect Twister' first turned it into a laughing matter.

As Zombie Twister gained popularity, audiences flocked, and the number of screens rapidly increased. When 'Perfect Twister' was taken off, 'Zombie Twister 2' took its place.

Thus, 'Zombie Twister 2' became a huge hit, and the Zombie Twister series grew into a franchise that sustained the company.

Before I regressed, eight main installments and two spin-offs had been released, averaging one per year.

With the support of a dedicated fan, Director Fernando Sanchez later created a new SF franchise that surpassed Star Wars.

Prisoner grew into a major film company that challenged Disney's dominance, but that's a story for later.

"Actually, there's another reason I acquired Prisoner."

"What is it?"

I said while eating my pancake.

"You'll find out soon. Let's eat first."

* * *

Our next destination was Santa Monica.

"Where are we going to invest next?"

In response to David's question, I asked instead:

"Do you like games?"

"I don't play them often."

Of course, he probably didn't have the leisure to play games while studying, working, and raising a child. However, most people enjoy games.

"Then what do you think about the future of the gaming industry?"

"I think it's very promising."

"Why?"

"Because leisure time is increasing. The increase in leisure time is linked to an increase in demand for games. The industry is expected to grow explosively in the future."

The content industry is already growing rapidly every year. However, among these, the industry showing the most significant growth is gaming.

The notion that games are just for kids is outdated.

Generally, music and movies are considered more mainstream, and games are thought to be enjoyed only by a few enthusiasts.

In terms of user numbers, this is true. However, in terms of industry size, it's a different story.

Gaming is now a global content industry and a core part of the IT sector.

The global gaming industry is larger than the combined music and film industries. Moreover, unlike other cultural industries that are in a state of stagnation, it continues to grow by nearly 20% annually.